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IT’S YOUR PAPER
Rockin’ opening for Music and Market
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From the desk of...
May 26, 2017
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LAurA HOFFMEISTEr
MAYOR
Proposed federal budget cuts will affect city’s seniors
Among the many things I treasure about public service is my role as a board member for the John Muir/Mt. Diablo Community Health Fund (CHF). I have seen how many in our area have benefited from CHF funding and expertise. Over two decades, CHF – a community benefit arm of John Muir Health – has distributed more than $26 million to
See Mayor, page 6
Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer
AN UNSEASONABLY COLD AND CLOUDY MAY EVENING didn’t discourage several hundred music fans from the first of the city’s 29th Annual Music and Market summer concert series. The season kicked off on May 11 with a celebratory memorial to Steve Sage, legendary rock and roll musician and DVC teacher who died Jan. 19 at 61. The season continues through Sept. 14 when Annie Sampson, Concord’s Blues and Soul Diva brings the season to a close. The Thursday Farmers Market is open from 4-8 p.m. Concerts begin at 6:30. On Tuesdays, the Farmers Market is open from 2-4 p.m. and the Tuesday Night Blues Series begins July 11 at 6:30 with Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors. For the full summer music schedule, go to www.cityofconcord.org.
May Day rally supports sanctuary city status JOHN T. MILLER Correspondent
Hundreds of Concord residents marched from Meadow Homes Park to Todos Santos Plaza as part of a May Day rally calling for sanctuary city status, rent stabilization and fair wages for the city’s immigrant population. The peaceful demonstration, called Concord’s first May Day observance, included speakers at both the park and plaza from advocacy groups emphasizing immigrants’ concerns. The events kicked off with master of ceremony Francisco Herrera playing music and addressing the crowd from a flatbed truck. The Rev. Kurt Kuhwald of the Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy (FAME) gave the blessing, saying: “We are strong when we’re together in love and justice.” Representing Raise the Roof Coalition, Rhea Elina
Tamara Steiner/Concord Pioneer
PEACEFUL PROTESTORS OPPOSED to current ICE enforcement policy participate in a May Day rally and march to Todos Santos Plaza.
Laughlin gave an impassioned speech in both English and Spanish. She told of the fear many parents in the community have of being separated from their children. “We contribute to this community and make this city better because we are here,”
she said. “We will fight to keep our families together.” Margaret Hanlon Gradie spoke on behalf of local labor groups, noting that the immigrant population contributed about $2.1 billion to the nation’s economy. The crowd followed the
flatbed truck out Detroit Avenue and down Willow Pass Road to Todos Santos Plaza. With Concord police assisting with traffic control and more than 30 volunteer marshals directing walkers, the 1.3-mile march came off safely and successfully.
KARA NAVOLIO Correspondent
namics and safety, 40-100 kids will take flight over the course of three hours. Stephanie Anderson, a 10year-old from Concord, began flying when she was 8. Although she has never flown on a commercial flight, Stephanie has been soaring over the Bay area at least six times. “I love birds. I was curious about flying because of birds. They can fly anytime they want,” she says. “I dream about flying. When we saw the advertisement for this program, I knew I wanted to fly. It’s so cool.” She couldn’t contain her excitement as she climbed into
At Todos Santos, Father Richard Mangini of St. Bonaventure Church addressed the crowd. He spoke of the original May Day demands of an eighthour day and a five-day workweek and called on leaders to recognize that different times call for different struggles. “We don’t need the violence of the past; we need to talk and come together at the table – the rich and the poor for the benefit of both.” Central Labor Council president Steve Older recalled the role of immigrants throughout our nation’s history. He then led the audience in a rendition of Pete Seeger’s “This Land is Your Land.” Debra Ballinger-Bernstein from Raise the Roof and Monument Impact called on the city of Concord to adopt a sanctuary city policy and prevent departments from collaborating with U.S. Immigrations
See Rally, page 4
Aspiring young pilots reach for their dreams
Kara Navolio
SAM DESMOND, 12 , OF CONCORD is one of the eager young pilots flying with the Young Eagles program at Buchanan Field. His goal is to someday become an EMT rescue helicopter pilot.
Kids who dream of flying can try it, for free, at Concord’s Buchanan Field Airport. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) sponsors the Young Eagles program for kids 8-17 on the third Saturday of June, August and September. Member pilots volunteer their time and their small aircrafts for 20-45 minute flights around the Bay Area with aspiring pilots. Children start lining up at 6 a.m. for the first flights at 9. After working with the flight simulation software, a briefing and some lessons on aerody-
the front seat next to the pilot. “I do get a little nervous, but you have to live your life,” says her dad, Sean Anderson. “I have faith in the program. It’s an outstanding opportunity.” Jack Davi launched the program in Concord in 2010. He is retired now but still attends the Saturday morning programs to offer his support and see the joy it brings to the kids. Two million children have flown in the Young Eagles program nationally since its inception in 1992. Stephen Tucker now runs the Concord Young Eagles. As a 7-year-old, he fell in love with
See Pilots, page 5
Council nixes using Measure Q funds to close budget gap PEGGY SPEAR Concord Pioneer
The Concord City Council quickly killed a plan to spend Measure Q money to help fund unfunded liabilities in the city’s two-year budget. It was a good news/not-sogood-news scenario when finance director Karan Reid released the preliminary 2017’18, 2018-’19 budget earlier this month. The good news is that the budget is balanced. But the $97.4 million year one budget and the $102.5 million year two budget both rely on $7.5 million in Measure Q funds to help stabilize the spending for unfunded liabilities. Measure Q is the half-cent sales tax measure that was extended in 2014 and will sunset in 2025. “I am uncomfortable using Measure Q dollars in that way because when we went to the public for support of Measure Q, we told them it would be used specifically for city services – like the senior center and road repairs,” said Vice Mayor Edi Birsan. Many of his council colleagues agreed. “I also can’t support Measure Q being used
See Budget, page 4
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Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Community . . . . . . . . . . .2
From the desk of . . . . . .7 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Performing Arts . . . . . .16